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Lynn to start NLCS opener should Cards advance

Lynn to start NLCS opener should Cards advance

WASHINGTON -- The Cardinals will not use Lance Lynn out of the bullpen on Friday in order to preserve him for a start in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, should they advance.

Because this NL Division Series went a full five games, none of the Cardinals' three healthy starters -- Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter or Kyle Lohse -- would be available to pitch the opening game of the NLCS on a normal four days' rest. That game is scheduled for Sunday against the Giants.

With Jaime Garcia sidelined by a left shoulder injury, the Cards had to slide someone from the 'pen into the rotation. The choice will be Lynn, an 18-game winner who spent the majority of the 2012 season starting. He's made three appearances in this series, the longest a 50-pitch relief outing after Garcia had to leave his Game 2 start.

The rest of the Cards' rotation for the NLCS would line up as follows: Carpenter would pitch Game 2, followed by Lohse in Game 3 and Wainwright in Game 4. Because the club does not want Wainwright to pitch on short rest, the rotation would then turn over in that same order. That would limit Wainwright to only one NLCS start.